What penalties do foreigners face for overstaying visa in Vietnam?

What are the specific penalties?

Authorities in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam recently discovered six Nigerian nationals who had overstayed their temporary residence by more than one year, prompting an investigation under Vietnamese immigration regulations.

The immigration management division under the Khanh Hoa Police Department said that it was coordinating with other police units to investigate the six Nigerian nationals for allegedly violating Vietnam's immigration regulations.

Under Article 21 of Decree No. 282/2025/ND-CP on administrative sanctions in the fields of security, public order, social safety, social evils prevention, and domestic violence prevention, these Nigerians men may face fines of VND30-40 million (US$1,140-1,520) each.

In particular, foreigners who use temporary residence certificates, temporary residence extensions, temporary residence cards without authorization from competent authorities, or fail to renew permanent residence cards after they have expired for one year or more are subject to such fines.

Additional sanctions may include confiscation of items or means used in the violation and recovery of any illegal profits obtained through the offense.

After completing the investigation, police will determine whether deportation should be imposed, based on the nature and severity of the violation, its consequences, the offender's circumstances, and any mitigating or aggravating factors.

Meanwhile, the owners of two accommodation establishments where the six Nigerians were staying may also face administrative penalties, depending on the outcome of the authorities' verification.

What should foreigners do if they overstay visa in Vietnam?

Immigration authorities advise anyone who has overstayed their visa, temporary residence card, or visa exemption to report immediately to the local immigration office or the Ministry of Public Security's Immigration Department to settle any fines.

Overstayers should not attempt to leave the country without resolving their status first. Instead, reporting the violation voluntarily and paying the fines can be treated as a mitigating factor during official reviews for penalty assessments or future residence extensions.

After resolving the violation, individuals should gather the required paperwork to apply for an extension or a new temporary residence card through the Immigration Department or a provincial immigration office.

The Khanh Hoa Police also urged accommodation providers—including hotels, guesthouses, and landlords—to register foreign guests immediately upon their arrival. 

Authorities warned that helping, harboring, or failing to report foreigners who have overstayed their visa or entered the country illegally is a punishable offense that carries administrative fines or criminal prosecution.

Foreigners living and working in Vietnam are encouraged to monitor their visa and residence permit expiration dates regularly. 

Members of the public are also urged to report suspicious activity or unregistered foreign guests to local police or the provincial immigration hotline.